Spirit Figures

Original Performance on
February 7, 1992

1992 – Combining a tree limb with discarded materials deemed probably dangerous for the Earth environment, spirit figures were created to engage in a ritual of a community of dancers. The tree limbs were obtained in a storm drain (ravine/river) in Arlington, Virginia leading to the Potomac River and plastic became the predominate material for each figure along with cans and bottles.

When Spirit Figures was done in Brazil for the UN Earth Summit, a Brazilian visual artist created figures like sea creatures from rubber and other available materials in Brazil. Since there were no trees of any height in Brasilia where the reconstruction occurred, bamboo (abundant in Brasilia) poles were used. Brazilian and American dancers performed together.

Eagle Messenger is included as part of the evening-length program, Rolling Thunder in Dance for the Earth.